Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk visits DC SCORES students at Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson

DC SCORES poet-athletes at Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson will receive quite the treat tomorrow when they are visited by a world-class, legendary athlete.

No, he's not a soccer player, but Tony Hawk is one of the most celebrated — not to mention, and this is important when visiting kids, "coolest" — athletes in modern sports history, and his achievements in sport and winning personality make him a remarkable figure regardless of whether you've ever stepped foot on a skateboard.

Just as important as his incredible, earth-defying feats on a skateboard, Hawk has dedicated his post-competitive career to building skate parks in low-income areas to provide children with constructive physical activity opportunities. Through the Tony Hawk Foundation, he has poured $3.2 million into such projects.

And tomorrow, the world's most famous action-sports figure is visiting DC SCORES!

A handful of lucky Shaw poet-athletes will join Hawk, DC SCORES Executive Director Amy Nakamoto, and Up2Us Executive Director Paul Caccamo for lunch at DC's famous Ben's Chili Bowl.

The group will then join the rest of the Shaw student body in the school's gym for a skateboarding demonstration. Hawk will also speak about the importance of youth sports development programs and organizations such as Up2Us — a national nonprofit coalition advancing youth sports programs — and DC SCORES, and he'll field questions from students.

For more information on what is sure to be a special, memorable day for all involved, see below:

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Kelly Lyons/Up2Us/(212) 563-3031/klyons@up2us.org

Andrea Kotuk/Andrea & Associates/(212) 353-9585/andreapr@andreaandassociates.com

SKATEBOARDING LEGEND TONY HAWK VISITS WITH WASHINGTON D.C. SCHOOLCHILDREN

Hawk stresses importance of youth sports, gives skateboard demonstration as part of Up2Us National Summit of youth sports leaders

Over 150 students from Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson welcome skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, hear about his personal experiences in the sport and join Hawk in a skateboarding demonstration. Representatives from Up2Us, a national nonprofit coalition leading the movement to advance youth sports programs, and DC SCORES, an Up2Us member that serves hundreds of low-income DC youth through after-school programs, speak about the importance of sports and youth development locally and nationally.

Tony Hawk joins leaders from Up2Us coalition members gathered in Washington D.C. for the Up2Us National Summit: Think Globally, Play Locally. The Up2Us National Summit brings together youth sports leaders from around the country to change the way that people think about the power of sports to positively impact youth. Later in the day, Hawk, a Laureus World Sports Academy Member, will be the Keynote Speaker at the Up2Us Coach of the Year Ceremony and Reception.

Interviews available:

• Tony Hawk, Skateboarding Legend and Laureus World Sports Academy Member
• Paul Caccamo, Executive Director, Up2Us
• Amy Nakamoto, Executive Director, DC SCORES
• Principal Kimberly Douglas, Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson
• Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson students

DATE: Wednesday, October 5, 2011

TIME: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Shaw Middle School @ Garnet-Patterson, 2001 10th St., NW, Washington, DC

On-site contact: Kelly Lyons (401) 256-3038

The Up2Us National Summit 2011 sponsors include Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and The George Washington University.

Up2Us is a national nonprofit coalition leading the movement to advance sports as a vehicle to address critical issues facing youth, including childhood obesity, academic failure and anti-social behavior. Up2Us supports a national network of close to 500 member organizations in all 50 states, including DC SCORES. These organizations serve 20 million youth through traditional and non-traditional sports. Members share best practices, advance initiatives that extend opportunities to new players, and deliver quality programs in underserved communities where there is a tremendous need for constructive outlets for youth. For more information, log on to up2us.org.